TECH/REVIEW | HONOR X7d: The New Budget Daily Driver

As someone who juggles two jobs and a love-hate relationship with my bank account, I’m constantly looking for gadgets that offer maximum value without breaking the bank. So when I heard about HONOR’s new water-resistant budget phone, the HONOR X7d, I was immediately sat.

Touted as “All-Angle Water-Resistant,” the HONOR X7d promises durability, solid performance, and battery life that might just outlast my TikTok brainrot scrolling sessions.

After using it for a few days, I can say that this phone isn’t just about surviving spills, it’s about making budget smartphones feel cool again. More on this edition of VP Tech.

Build

The moment I unboxed the HONOR X7d, I was honestly impressed with how sleek it looked. The phone comes in three eye-catching colorways—Velvet Black, Ocean Cyan, and my personal pick, Desert Gold. The finish gives off just enough shine without looking too flashy, which I appreciated.

Even though it’s got a big screen and serious battery, the X7d only weighs 208 grams, which makes it pretty comfortable to carry around all day.

And let’s talk about durability. The HONOR X7d boasts 5-star Premium Drop Protection, plus an IP65M Water-Resistance rating which meant I didn’t have to panic when it caught some splashes during this very unpredictable and wet weather. I wouldn’t go swimming with it, but rain, sweat and minor spills? No problem.

Display

The 6.77-inch display is honestly one of the standout features here. It’s big enough for watching YouTube, streaming K-dramas, or editing school presentations without squinting. The 120Hz refresh rate gives it that smooth scrolling experience you usually only see on higher-end phones—super satisfying when flipping through TikTok or playing light games like Mobile Legends.

I watched a full Zyoxx stream supercut on it during a long downtime at work and was surprised at how bright and vibrant the screen stayed, even with sunlight glaring through the window.

Battery

If battery anxiety is part of your daily life, the HONOR X7d might be your new best friend. With a 6500mAh battery, this phone doesn’t just last a full day — it can push up to three days on a single charge if you’re not gaming nonstop.

Charging is no headache either. The 35W HONOR SuperCharge took me from 15 percent to around 70 percent in about 30 minutes, which is perfect for those in-a-rush moments before heading out.

And according to HONOR, this battery is engineered to last five years without significant degradation. I can’t test that claim yet, obviously, but if true, it’s a game-changer for budget users who don’t want to upgrade every year.

Storage and Performance

Under the hood, the HONOR X7d runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 685— a solid midrange processor that handled my everyday tasks easily. I used it for switching between Spotify, Google Docs, and Instagram, and even did a little photo editing without any lag.

The 16GB of RAM (8GB physical + 8GB virtual) kept multitasking smooth, and the 512GB of storage felt like a luxury. It’s just the best for snapping photos, downloading videos, and saving playlists like there’s no tomorrow.

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The AI Button

Here’s a fun little feature I didn’t expect to love: the Instant AI Button on the side. It’s a customizable physical button that I’ve mapped to launch Google Assistant and, later, my camera for quick snaps. I thought it’d be gimmicky, but it’s actually super useful when I’m in a rush or just want to flex a little shortcut magic.

It’s little touches like this that make the HONOR X7d feel more thought-out than your typical budget phone.

Camera

Let’s be real, no one expects DSLR-level photography from a phone under 10k. But the 108MP main camera honestly surprised me. It captures plenty of detail, especially in good lighting. I snapped a few shots and some casual portraits, and the results were crisp and Instagram-worthy.

There’s also a 2MP depth sensor, which helps with portrait shots, and an 8MP selfie camera that does a decent job for video calls and social media. If you’re not a photography nerd but just want good, clear photos for memories and socials, this will more than do the job.

Overall thoughts

The HONOR X7d doesn’t try to pretend it’s a flagship killer—and that’s exactly why it pops. It knows its audience: people who need a durable, all-around smartphone that nails the basics, offers long-term battery life, and doesn’t skimp on features that actually matter.

For students, shift workers, or anyone on a tight budget looking for a phone that won’t bail on them mid-day or require a backup power bank 24/7, this is a seriously solid pick.